In his debut season with the New York Rangers, Matt Rempe made quite a splash by engaging in fisticuffs with some of the NHL’s toughest enforcers. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-7, the rookie center racked up an impressive 71 penalty minutes in just 17 games during the regular season. Along the way, he managed to contribute offensively with one goal and one assist before adding another goal in 11 postseason games.
Despite his standout performance, Rempe understands that nothing is guaranteed as training camp approaches. The towering forward is well aware of the challenge ahead as he vies for a spot on the Rangers’ opening-day roster for the upcoming season. In an interview with NHL.com, Rempe expressed his determination to continue earning his place on the team:
“I’m getting all this attention, and I feel like I have to earn it. I’ve gotten on the scene, I’ve done well, but there’s so much room for growth. I don’t want to let anyone down. I’m terrified of that. That pushes me every single day to try to do the max that I can and ask how much better did I get today?”
Hailing from Calgary, the 22-year-old Rempe was a sixth-round draft pick by New York in 2020. After honing his skills with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack for two seasons, he finally received the call-up to join the NHL ranks. During his time in the AHL, Rempe accumulated 183 penalty minutes in 96 games while also showcasing some offensive flair with eight goals and 12 points in his most recent season.
Looking ahead to his future with the Rangers, Rempe is focused on expanding his game beyond just being an enforcer. He envisions himself as a versatile bottom-six player who can make an impact in various aspects of the game.
“I’m just trying to get better,” Rempe affirmed. “I feel like I can be a very effective bottom-six player who is fast, mean, physical, skates well, protects pucks, goes to the net, is good around the net, can play center or wing. I want to be a good penalty killer. I feel like I can be a guy one day on a shutdown line that can be very hard to play against and also create some offense around the net, bring pucks to the net. I’ve got a long way to go but that’s all I’m working toward.”
As the Rangers gear up for the preseason opener against the Boston Bruins on September 22nd, all eyes will be on Rempe as he strives to secure his spot on the roster. With the season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins looming on October 9th, the young forward is determined to continue making strides in his development and cement his place with the team.
